Harvard Scientist Claims ‘Hostile’ Alien Object Approaches Earth

A newly identified interstellar object named 3I/ATLAS is hurtling towards the inner solar system at an estimated speed of 135,000 miles per hour (approximately 217,000 kilometers per hour). This discovery has prompted speculation from Harvard astrophysicist Professor Avi Loeb, who suggests that the object may represent some form of alien-operated technology. First detected on July 1, 2025, 3I/ATLAS is thought to measure between 12 and 15 miles (approximately 19 to 24 kilometers) in width and is following an unusual trajectory.

As the third confirmed interstellar object to traverse our solar system—preceded by 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019—3I/ATLAS is significantly larger than its predecessors. It is projected to reach perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun, on October 30, 2025, or early November 2025. Its path includes gravitational interactions with Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, raising questions about the object’s calculated approach.

In a paper co-authored by Professor Loeb, along with researchers Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl, they propose that 3I/ATLAS might not be a natural object but potentially a technological artefact of alien origin. Their study, titled “Is the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Alien Technology?”, posits that the object’s trajectory could indicate deliberate maneuvers, possibly to deploy observational or reconnaissance devices. They controversially describe it as a potential “hostile” probe.

Despite this provocative claim, Professor Loeb acknowledged, “By far, the most likely outcome will be that 3I/ATLAS is a completely natural interstellar object, probably a comet.” The scientific community has largely dismissed the notion of an alien probe, maintaining that current observations suggest 3I/ATLAS is a typical interstellar comet.

Critics, such as astronomer Chris Lintott from the University of Oxford, have expressed skepticism. Lintott called the theory “nonsense on stilts” in an email to Live Science. Similarly, Dr. Samantha Lawler from the University of Regina emphasized that “the vast majority of scientists subscribe to the idea that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and the evidence presented is absolutely not extraordinary.”

Astronomers have noted that 3I/ATLAS exhibits characteristics consistent with natural comets, such as a visible coma—a cloud of gas and dust emitted by comets. Furthermore, the object has shown no evidence of propulsion, targeted trajectory changes, or radio emissions that would suggest an artificial origin.

As 3I/ATLAS approaches its perihelion, it is expected to pass on the far side of the Sun, limiting direct observation during its closest approach. Nevertheless, telescopes and space agencies, including NASA and the European Space Agency, are actively tracking its path and behavior. Researchers are preparing to investigate the object’s outgassing, light reflection, and any potential electromagnetic signatures that may arise as it nears the Sun.

At its closest point, 3I/ATLAS will remain at a safe distance of approximately 149 million miles (about 240 million kilometers) from Earth, posing no immediate threat. As more data becomes available, scientists hope to better understand whether 3I/ATLAS is a natural interstellar traveler or something far more enigmatic.